Disposable flashlight



March 1956 H. B. ROWLAND DISPOSABLE FLASHLIGHT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 3, 1952 Fig.3

Horace B. Rowland INVENTOR. 406: %qs

March 20, B RO DISPOSABLE FLASHLIGHT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 5, 1952 Horace B. Rowland W a M United States PatentO F DISPOSABLE FLAESHLIGHT Horace B. Rowland, Harrisburg, Pa., assignor of onefourth to Sidney W. Blackman, Warren, and one-fourth to William H. Smith, Harrisburg, Pa.

Application January 3, 1952, Serial No. 264,791

Claims. (Cl. 240-10.65)

This invention relates generally to flashlights and more particularly to disposable flashlight casings.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a casing for a flashlight which may be so economically produced that it may be disposed of at the end of the life of the batteries used therein.

Another object of this invention is to provide a casing for a flashlight which may be shipped and stored in a flat condition and easily folded to provide a holder for batteries and a bulb.

Another object of this invention is to provide a flashlight casing which may be formed from inexpensive fibrous materials.

Another object of this invention is to provide a flashlight casing in which the contacts are inexpensive pieces of metal foil glued or otherwise secured to the casing.

A further object of this invention is to provide a flashlight casing which is in the form of a small rectangular package only slightly larger than the dimensions of two flashlight batteries, whereby it may be easily handled.

These, together with various ancillary features and objects of the invention, which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the flashlight which is the subject of this invention and is shown attached to a section of a belt;

Figure 2 is another perspective view of the flashlight and clearly shows the details of the rear of the same;

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of Figure 1 and showing the internal construction of the flashlight, the batteries not being shown in section;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of Figure l; with only the flashlight casing being shown in section;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the flashlight casing which is the subject of this invention, showing it in its flat stage prior to folding;

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of one of the bulb contacts and shows the arrangement of the metal foil contact thereon;

Figure 7 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 77 of Figure 5 and showing the manner in which a sleeve forming element is secured to a rear wall of the casing; and

Figure 8 is a partial top plan view of the flashlight casing as shown in Figure 5 of the bulb engaging contact omitted.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the views, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention depicted in the drawings as illustrated by the principles of the invention, comprises a simple flash- 2,739,225 Patented Mar. 20, 1956 light casing which is intended to be disposed of upon the expiration of the life of the original batteries. Referring more specifically to Figure 5, it will be seen that the flashlight casing includes a rectangular carton which will be referred to hereinafter by the reference numeral 10 and the carton 10 has a front wall 12, a rear wall 14, a pair of side walls 16 and 18 and a pair of end walls 20 and 22. The carton 10 is formed from a single sheet of material, and the front wall 12 is centrally disposed whereby the side walls 16 and 18 and the end walls 20 and 22 are connected therewith. The rear wall 14 is attached to the side wall 16 on the side opposite the front wall 12. Attached to opposite edges of the side wall 16 is a pair of identical tabs 24 and 26. A pair of identical tabs 28 and 30 are also secured to the opposite end edges of the side wall 18. Attached to the end walls 20 and 22 along their edges opposite their connections with the front wall 12 is a pair of identical tabs 32 and 34. Attached to the rear wall 14 along the edge opposite its connection with the side Wall 16 is a flap 36. Cut from the tabs 32 and 34 are a pair of smaller tabs 38 and 40 which have a portion attached to the end walls 20 and 22, respectively.

In order that the carton 10 may function as a flashlight casing, the tabs 24, 26, 28 and 30 are each provided with centrally located eyelets 42. The eyelets 42 are metallic and are adapted to engage the bottoms and central terminals of flashlight batteries. The end wall 20 is provided with an elongated strip of metal foil 44 extending longitudinally thereof. When the carton is in its folded position the strip of foil 44 serves as a contact and engages the metal eyelets 42 of the tabs 24 and 28. The other end wall 22 is provided with a first contact 46 which is also formed of metal foil and extends from the central portion of the end wall 22 towards the tab 30 as shown in Figure 5. A second metal foil contact 48 is mounted on the end wall 22 adjacent the first contact 46 and ex tends over onto the front wall 12. As shown in Figure 8, the contact 48 has an ofiset portion 50 on the front wall 12. The offset portion 50 overlies the central portion of the front wall 12, and both the contact portion 50 and the front 12 are provided with an aperture 52 for receiving the base of the flashlight bulb with the contact portion 50 being adapted to engage the base of the bulb and form one contact therefor. When the wall and the tabs are folded to form a carton, the metal eyelets 42 on the tabs 30 and 26 engage the contacts 46 and 48, respectively. A T-shaped contact carrying element 54 is secured to the end wall 22 by staples 56 passing through the leg 58 of the contact carrying element 54 from the end wall 22.

Referring now to Figure 6, it will be seen that the T- shaped contact carrying element 54 is provided on its underside with an elongated metal foil contact 60 which extends longitudinally of the leg 58 and covers a material portion thereof. The T-shaped element 54 and the contact 60 are provided with a common eyelet 62 passing therethrough. The eyelet 62 is adapted to engage the contact at the bottom of a flashlight bulb. As shown in Figure 5, the contact 60 is secured in engagement with the contact 46 by staples 56.

Referring once again to Figure 5, when it is desired to fold the casing 10 into a carton, the side walls 16 and 18 are folded along fold lines 64 and 66, respectively, until they are at right angles to the plane of the front wall 12. The tabs 24 and 26 are then folded inwardly along the fold lines 68 and 70, respectively, until they are in a position normal to both the side walls 16 and the front wall 12. The tabs 28 and 30 are likewise folded along fold lines 72 and 74, respectively. The tabs 32 and 34 are then folded along fold lines '76 and 7t; and maintain a position normal to the end walls 26 and 22, respectively. The end wall 20 is then folded inwardly towards the front wall 12. along the fold line until it is normal to 12. The end wall 22 and the tab 24 are likewise folded about =a=fo1d line 82. It should be ndtedr't hat when the end wal-l 22 is folded about the fold line 82 that thele'g 58, its associated contact element 60, and the contact 48-are also folded about the fold line 82. The-flap 36is foldedupwardly along thefoldline 84 to a position normal tothe plane of the rear wall 14. The rear wall 14 is folded about-fold'line 8 6' to a position normal to the side wall 16 and parallel the front wall 12. It is readily seen that the rear wall 14 then overlies the tabs 32 and 34. The tabs- 38 -and40 are then folded on fold lines' 88*and '90, respectively, to a posit-ion overlying the rear wall 14. As will be-seen by referring to Figure '2, the-tabs 38 and 40 are provided on their undersides with disc 92 which are secured to the tabs by eyelets 94. A length of string 9'6 is then wrapped around the eyelets 94 between the disc 92 and the tabs 38 and ii to form a rigid casing.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 8, it will be seen that the bulb receiving aperture 52 is provided with a plurality of radially extending slits 98 extending therefrom. While the casing is still in its first stage, a bulb 100 is pushed into the bulb opening 52 from the inner side of the inner side of the front wall 12. The bulb 100 has a flange contact 102 which is in flush engagement with the contact portion 50; Carried at the rear of the bulb 100 is a contact 104 which engages the contact eyelet 62 after the bulb 190' has been installedin the front wall 12, a pair'of ordinary flashlight batteries 106' and 108 are laid on the front wall 12 and overlying the contact carrying element 54 in reverse relation. The walls and tabs of the flashlight casing are infolded in the manner hereinbefore described to form a flashlight. The arms '110 and 11-2 of the T-shaped element 54 engage the sides of the batteries 106 and E08, respectively. The receiving engagement of the arms with the batteries results in a thrust on the rear of the bulb 1th) thereby pressing theflange 102 of the bulb into tight contact with the contact portion 50. Mounted on the outside of the wall 12 is a reflector 114 which is a large section of bright metal foil. While the reflector 114 is shown as being circular, it is readily understood that it could be of any shape and if desired may cover the entire outer surface of the front wall 12.

in order that the flashlight may be easily carried, there is secured to the outer surface of the rear wall 14a flat plate116. The plate 116 is secured to the rear wall 14 by a-pl-urality of staples 11 8 along two opposite side edges. The flashlight may then be carried on a belt 120 by inserting the belt between the plate 116 and the rear wall 14.

From the above description of the flashlight, iris-believed that it will be apparent that the flashlight. casing 10 is .not provided with a switch of any sort. Attention is called to the fact that this flashlight is designed forcontinuous use as in the case of campers, hikers, by a household during the time of a power failure or as an emergency light for night work. In normal operation the tab 36 is glued to the side wall 18 to form a more rigid casingyif it is desired to use the flashlight for only a short period of time, the flap 36 is not glued to the side wall 18 and the flashlight may be quickly disassembled and stored for further use.

While the forming of the flashlight from a flat. sheet has been described in detail, it should be understood that this explanation is for the express purpose of describing the manner in which the flashlight carton may be formed. However, the carton is normally packaged with the walls andtabs folded one upon the other to form a sm'altrectangular package. Also, while the carton has been illustrated and described as utilizing eyelets as contacts,.it is not intended that the invention be so limited as staples or other suitable metal fasteners may be used. Furthermore, the carton is generally partially assembled and then-the'batteries are thrusted therein with their opposite directions.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, such numerous modifications and changm will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described,

and. accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents;

maybe resorted, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new l. A flashlight comprising disposable flashlight case, a pair of batteries and a bulb, said case including a rectangular carton folded from a one-piece fibrous blank, said carbon having an end wall with an elongated contact thereon contacting the end of said pair of batteries; an opposite end wall having a pair 0t spaced contactseach engaging an end of one of said batteries, a front wall having an opening therein receiving said bulb, said front wall "having a contact thereon engaging an outer contact of the bulb, a contact pivotally connected to said opposite end wall and engaging a rear contact of said bu-lb, said pivotally connected-contact having a central portion urged rearwardly by said bulb into engagement with 'said'battcrics intermediate their ends to retain them in spaced relation.

2. A flashlight comprising disposable flashlight case, a pair of batteries and a bulb, said case ineludinga rectangular carton folded from a one-piece fibrous "blank, said carton having an end wall with an enlongated contact thereon contacting the ends of said pair of batteries, an opposite end wall having a pair of spacedcontacts each engaging an end of "one of said batteries, a front wall having an opening therein receiving 'said bulb, said front wall having a contact thereon engaging an outer contactof the bulb, a 'contactpivotally connected to said opposite end wall and engaging a rear contact'of said bulb, certain of said contacts being provided. with metal fasteners in contact therewith for engaging said batteries to insure positive contact, said metal fasteners being carried by integral tabs positionable between ends of said batteries and said certain contacts.

3. A collapsible holder for flashlight elements comprising a carton of a size to receive a pair of flashlight batteries in spaced side-by-side relation between end walls there'oti'a front wall of said carton having a bulb opening located centrally thereof, a rear bulb contact connected to one of said end walls for pivotal movement, said rear contact being disposed rearwardly of said front walljin position to overlie intermediate portions of flashlight bate teriesand be urged rearwardly by a "base of a bulb 'disposed in said bulb opening for retaining flashlight batteries in spaced relation.

4. A collapsible holder for flashlight elements, comprising a carton folded from .a flat. one-piece fibrous blank and 'of a size to;completely house two flashlight "batteries in spaced side-by-side relation, including spaced end walls having thin metal contacts thereon, a front Wall having a bulb receiving opening therein, a contact on said front wall for said bulb, certain of said contacts being provided with eyelets in contact therewith-for engaging batteries to insure positive contact, said eyelets being .carriedby integral tabs positioned in overlying relation .rclativento said certain contacts.

5. A disposable flashlight case for a dual battery :type flashlight,.said case comprising arecta'ngular carton folded from a ronerpiece fibrous blank, said carton .havingnau end wall with an elongated battery bridging contact thereon an 'opposite end wall having a pair of spaced battery cngageabl'e contacts, a front wallhaving a. bulb receiving opening therein, said front wall having a fixed bulb engageable contact on its "innersu-rface, saidfixcd contact and 'one of saidspaced contacts being inter-- 5 6 connected, a pivotable bulb engageable contact connected 1,922,801 Gillingham Aug. 15, 1933 to said opposite end Wall, said pivotable contact being 1,959,931 Schwartz May 22, 1934 connected to the other of said spaced contacts. 2,089,897 Iudkins Aug. 10, 1937 i 2,522,660 Bledsoe, Jr Sept. 19, 1950 References Clted 1n the fil; of tlgcrgatent 5 FOREIGN PATENTS UNI TED STATES ATE 146,330 Austria June 25, 1936 1,306,740 Bleber June 17, 1919 1,778,243 Burhans et a1. Oct. 14, 1930 

